President Uhuru raises concern over high cost of government tenders

The Ministry of Health has been ordered to construct ultra-modern eye and dental units in four counties in the next 12 months.

Speaking after opening a Sh275 million eye and dental unit at Tenwek Mission Hospital in Bomet yesterday, President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed that similar facilities be put up at Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, as well as the Nyeri and Mombasa Level Five hospitals.

The donor-funded facility at Tenwek can serve up to 20,000 patients and conduct 5,000 surgeries annually.

“I have seen what less than Sh300 million can do to uplift the lives of Kenyans. I want to see similar facilities at Kenyatta National Hospital, Eldoret's Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Nyeri, and Mombasa,” said the President.

Uhuru said the mission hospital had proved that it was possible to build a modern facility cheaply, as opposed to inflated prices by contractors hired by Government institutions.

“The mission hospital has showed us that it is possible with less than Sh300 million to build and equip the facility. This is a warning to Government officers as we embark on doing four such projects across the country,” he said.

He directed health officials to replicate Tenwek Hospital's project and put up similar facilities at a similar cost.

The President, who was accompanied by his deputy, William Ruto, announced that the Government would allocate funds to build the facilities in the four counties.

“I have picked up several lessons here. You will not be able to fool me again,” he told top officials from the Ministry of Health.

Uhuru said his administration would not hesitate to send home corrupt officials seeking to milk the Government by inflating costs of projects.

“Be warned, we have learnt a lesson from Tenwek Mission Hospital that it is possible and we are going to do similar facilities in Eldoret, Nyeri, Nairobi, and Mombasa with a similar budget. Any misuse and you will blame yourself,” said the President.

The 81-year-old Tenwek Hospital, which started as a dispensary in 1937, is run by the Africa Gospel Church of Kenya.

The hospital's chief executive officer, Geoffrey Langat said the new dental unit has some of the latest machines in the market, boosting its rating in the world of medical care.

Medical care

“Tenwek is now joining the leagues of hospitals in the world that offer all eye and dental services in a one-stop-shop. We welcome the directive by the President to duplicate this success in counties to ease pressure on our facility," he said.